Cinnia Explained

Honorific Prefix:Saint
Cinnia
Birth Date:5th century
Birth Place:Ireland
Death Place:Ireland
Feast Day:1 February
Patronage:Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Influences:Saint Patrick

Cinnia, or Cynnia, was an Irish saint who lived during the 5th century. She was a princess of Ulster, the only daughter of Echu (or Eochaidh), a king in Ireland.[1]

She converted to Christianity, but her father wanted her to marry Corburac, so Saint Patrick intervened on her behalf.[2] Her father agreed to allow her to become a nun, on the condition that Patrick "promised him eternal life without compelling him to be baptized". Patrick agreed, and Cinnia entered the Monastery of Druimduchan, a large community of virgins, under the care of the abbess Cathuberis, where Cinnia lived until her death.[3] Cinnia was responsible for the conversion of many pagans and was well known for her miracles, which occurred both during her life and after she died.

Hagiographer Agnes Dunbar states that Cinnia might have been Patrick's sister, although that is unlikely. Her feast day is February 1.[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/C/cinna-(cinne-or-cinnia)-saint.html "Cinna (Cinne, or Cinnia), Saint", The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. (James Strong and John McClintock, eds.); Harper and Brothers; NY; 1880
  2. Book: Dunbar, Agnes B.C.. A Dictionary of Saintly Women. George Bell & Sons. 1901. 1. London. 91.
  3. Book: O'Leary, James. The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin. P.J. Kenedy. 1897. New York. 224–225.
  4. Book: Hutchison-Hall, John (Ellsworth). Orthodox Saints of the British Isles: Volume One (January - March). 2013. St. Eadfrith Press. 978-0-615-92580-6. 93. 1064010329.